LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) – With cooler weather bringing an end to toxic blue-green algae in Kansas waterways, health officials are working on a plan to combat the problem in the future.

This summer, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment tracked toxic blue-green algal blooms in more than 40 lakes and ponds. At least 16 people became ill from the algae-infested water, which also killed or sickened animals. The warnings also kept people away from some of the state’s most popular summer recreation spots.

State agencies are collecting data on the blooms. They plan to publish their findings and share what they’ve learned with other states.

The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the state health department also will have an epidemiologist study the health effects of the blooms.